Different Views of 3C442A
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This sequence begins with an optical view of the region around the 3C442A system. After zooming in, the Chandra X-ray and VLA radio images appear, showing the dramatic difference between what is seen in various wavelengths. There are two galaxies near the middle of 3C442A which are in the process of merging. These two galaxies are on their second pass toward a collision, having already experienced a close encounter.
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(Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Bristol/Worrall et al.; Radio: NRAO/AUI/NSF; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS)